1.ascertain

V-T If you ascertain the truth about something, you find out what it is, especially by making a deliberate effort to do so. (尤指經過努力) 查明

?? Through doing this, the teacher will be able to ascertain the extent to which the child understands what he is reading.

通過這樣做，老師將能確定這個孩子對他正在讀的內容的理解程度。

?? Once they had ascertained that he was not a spy, they agreed to release him.

一查明他不是間諜，他們就同意了釋放他。

2.assertive

①ADJ Someone who is assertive states their needs and opinions clearly, so that people take notice. 堅定自信的

?? Women have become more assertive in the past decade.

婦女在過去十年已變得更堅定自信。

②N-UNCOUNT 堅定自信

?? Chantelle's assertiveness stirred up his deep-seated sense of inadequacy.

仙黛爾的堅定自信激起了他根深蒂固的自卑感。

3.baffle

①V-T If something baffles you, you cannot understand it or explain it. 使困惑

?? An apple tree producing square fruit is baffling experts.

一棵結方形果實的蘋果樹正令專家們感到困惑。

②ADJ 令人困惑的

?? I was constantly ill, with a baffling array of symptoms.

我不斷地生病，還伴有一大堆莫名其妙的癥狀。

4.barren

①ADJ A barren landscape is dry and bare, and has very few plants and no trees. 荒蕪的

?? ...the Tibetan landscape of high barren mountains.

…西藏荒蕪的高山景觀。

②ADJ Barren land consists of soil that is so poor that plants cannot grow in it. 貧瘠的

?? He wants to use the water to irrigate barren desert land.

他想用該水來灌溉貧瘠的沙漠土地。

③ADJ If you describe something such as an activity or a period of your life as barren, you mean that you achieve no success during it or that it has no useful results. 無成就的; 不成功的

?? ...an empty exercise barren of utility.

…一項毫無效用的無聊訓練。

④ADJ If you describe a room or a place as barren, you do not like it because it has almost no furniture or other objects in it. 空蕩蕩的

?? The room was austere, nearly barren of furniture or decoration.

這個房間很簡樸，幾乎沒有什么家具或裝飾。

5.bewilder

V-T If something bewilders you, it is so confusing or difficult that you cannot understand it. 使迷惑

?? The silence from Alex had hurt and bewildered her.

亞歷克斯的沉默令她傷心和迷惑不解。

6.conform

①V-I If something conforms to something such as a law or someone's wishes, it is of the required type or quality. (與法律、愿望等) 相符合

?? The lamp has been designed to conform to new safety standards.

該燈設計得符合新的安全標準。

②V-I If you conform, you behave in the way that you are expected or supposed to behave. 守規矩

?? Many children who can't or don't conform are bullied.

許多不守規矩的孩子受欺負。

7.conscientious

①ADJ Someone who is conscientious is very careful to do their work properly. 認真的

?? We are generally very conscientious about our work.

我們一般對工作都是很認真的。

②ADV 認真地

?? He studied conscientiously and enthusiastically.

他認真積極地學習。

8.consolidate

①V-T If you consolidate something that you have, for example power or success, you strengthen it so that it becomes more effective or secure. 鞏固

?? The question is: will the junta consolidate its power by force?

問題是，這個軍政府會通過武力來鞏固它的政權嗎？

②V-T To consolidate a number of small groups or companies means to make them into one large organization. 合并

?? Judge Charles Schwartz is giving the state 60 days to disband and consolidate Louisiana's four higher education boards.

查爾斯·施瓦茨法官給該州60天解散且合并路易斯安那的4個高等教育委員會。

9.consultancy

①N-COUNT A consultancy is a company that gives expert advice on a particular subject. 咨詢公司

?? A survey of 57 hospitals by Newchurch, a consultancy, reveals striking improvements.

紐徹奇咨詢公司對57家醫院的調查顯示明顯的改善。

②N-UNCOUNT Consultancy is expert advice on a particular subject which a person or group is paid to provide to a company or organization. 咨詢

10.contrive

V-T If you contrive an event or situation, you succeed in making it happen, often by tricking someone. (常指用欺騙手段) 策劃

?? The oil companies were accused of contriving a shortage of petrol to justify price increases.

一些石油公司為了找借口提高油價而策劃謊報石油短缺，因而被起訴。